The SLO Film Festival promotes diversity, understanding, education, and inclusion through engaging storytelling. Our annual festival, along with events throughout the year, provide a venue for international and local filmmakers, exposing an ever-expanding range of audiences to new ideas and experiences. We’re excited to offer a free program to the public, Short Films, Big Stories: A Program of Diverse Voices programmed by Courtney Haile, Co-Founder of R.A.C.E Matters SLO. These films celebrate filmmakers of color and we also have incredible panel discussions that discuss the importance of equity and inclusion and we highlight grassroots changemakers within our community. Make sure to register for the free panels and get your free tickets to the shorts! You can watch the short films at any time during the six days of the festival, March 9th-14th.
Short Films, Big Stories: A Program of Diverse Voices (March 9th-14th)
SUPPORTED BY THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
Programmed by Courtney Haile Co-Founder of R.A.C.E Matters SLO
Our shorts film program features outstanding narratives and documentaries from *BIPOC filmmakers, whose visions amplify unique stories and experiences. The accompanying panel discussions promise lively conversations from both grassroots and studio motion picture creative change-makers.
*Black, Indigenous, People of Color
This program is free to the public, but requires registration here.
PANELS:
POWER OF MEDIA TO PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE – March 13th, 4:00PM PST
Discussions with local organizations on the power and pros and cons of media for activism.
Featuring:
- Harold Brown (Lorde Santcus) Connect the Coast
- Alisa Heraldo – Co-Founder, Community Roots Project
- Courtney Haile – Co-Founder, R.A.C.E. Matters SLO
- Karen Garcia – Editor, New Times
FROM THE BOTTOM UP: BUILDING REPRESENTATION IN FILM – March 11th 6:00pm PST
Hear from film experts on how to build racial equity and diversity from production to distribution.
Featuring:
- Sohini Sengupta – Group Creative Director, Amazon Studios
- Ivette Rodriquez -Founder, American Entertainment Marketing
- Fanshen Cox -Actor, Educator, Writer, Producer
